Etihad Aviation Training is the first UAE training organisation to be awarded EASA certification

Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates – Etihad Aviation Training, part of Etihad Aviation Group has accomplished the significant milestone of becoming the first full European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) Approved Training Organisation (ATO) for the transport category in the United Arab Emirates.

This significant
achievement reinforces the organisation’s position as a world-class aviation
training centre, located in the Middle East.

The certification is a
clear indication of the quality and standard that has been developed at the
training organisation as well as the cooperation between the UAE Civil Aviation
Authority (GCAA) and Etihad Aviation Group over the last few years.

Mohammad Al Bulooki,
Chief Operating Officer, Etihad Aviation Group, said: “Etihad Aviation Training
is an ambitious enterprise, pursuing its mandate to provide outstanding
training services to a global audience. The growth of the business will mirror
the expansion of the global training market and the entire group is excited
about the expanding portfolio of programmes and products.

“The
support of the wise leadership and the forward-thinking strategy that
has been adopted in Abu Dhabi has fast tracked this achievement. Abu Dhabi will
now be able to welcome and train pilots globally, wishing to achieve EASA type
rating.”

Etihad Aviation Training’s
EASA ATO approval covers the Airbus A320, A330 and A340, with ambitions to
extend this certification to include the Boeing fleet as well as the Airline
Transport Pilot Licence (ATPL) and Multi-crew Pilot Licence (MPL) courses in
2019.

Based at two locations
in the emirate of Abu Dhabi, Etihad Aviation Training is a commercially-focused
business open to external customers, while retaining the operational and safety
values that have underpinned Etihad’s training services to date.

This full EASA ATO
certification will enable the organisation to take advantage of the increasing global
demand for aviation training. EASA’s globally recognised certification is
expected to attract clients from Europe, as well as demand from the GCC, Africa,
Indian sub-continent and South-east Asia.

Captain Paolo La Cava,
Director Etihad Aviation Training, said: “The organisation is always looking
for ways to expand its operations and activities, and this new approval is the
perfect platform for growth.

“EAT operates two
facilities, one adjacent to Abu Dhabi International Airport, and a flight
training facility based in Al Ain. The Al Ain facility is our ab-initio school
teaching cadets, while Abu Dhabi is a training academy primarily responsible
for delivering advanced flight training for airlines.”

The recent EASA
approval builds on the success of the existing Part 147 Approved Maintenance
Training Organisation achieved for technical training in aircraft maintenance.
The Part 147 Technical Training is delivered in state-of-the-art classrooms by
a team of highly qualified instructors, including the Airbus Technical
Competency Training classroom.